World News Quick Take

AGENCIES

■ TRIBESMEN SEEK REVENGE

One person was killed in Papua Province in tribal fighting as villagers burned down at least 10 houses and attacked a police station, a police officer said yesterday. The violence was sparked when tribesman sought revenge after the death of an elder following a fight with police early Saturday, a Papua deputy police chief told el-Shinta radio station. He said relatives were demanding that a police officer be brought to a field and executed. On Saturday, an attack on a police station left one person dead, he said.

■ MALAYSIA

Ferris wheel traps 50

The launch of a giant ferris wheel in Malacca went sour when a power outage trapped around 50 people on the inaugural ride, reports said yesterday. Visitors were stuck 25m above the ground in the pitch dark Saturday until rescuers managed to bring the gondolas down manually half an hour later. The incident reportedly happened as Malacca's state governor and chief minister arrived to try the new tourist attraction.

■ FIJI

Assassination plot revealed

Police yesterday said several people had been arrested in relation to a plot to assassinate coup leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Of those arrested only millionaire information technology company executive Ballu Khan and high chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata have been identified. Takiveikata is patron of the party of the former prime minister Laisenia Qarase, who was ousted from office in a bloodless coup led by Bainimarama last December. Some reports said Khan was seriously injured during his arrest on Saturday and required hospital treatment.

■ TRANSLATION DRAWS ANGER

The parliament was in uproar on Saturday over a translation of the Koran by a government official they accused of trying to create division among Muslims. Parliamentarians accused the official of misinterpreting the Muslim holy book on many issues, including homosexuality and adultery, in his translation into Dari, the second most used language in the country. After an angry debate in both houses of parliament, lawmakers agreed Mohammad Ghaws Zalmai, spokesman to the attorney-general, should not be allowed to travel outside the country until the matter had been investigated.

■ CHINA

Olympics influences names

Next year's Beijing Olympics is more than just a point of national pride -- it's such an important part of the national consciousness that nearly 3,500 children have been named for the event, a newspaper reported yesterday. Most of the 3,491 people with the name "Aoyun" (奧運) meaning Olympics, were born around the year 2000, as Beijing was bidding to host the 2008 Summer Games, the Beijing Daily reported, citing information from the national identity card database.

■ JAPAN

Author found liable

A court on Friday ordered the author of a book on the military's atrocities in Nanjing to pay compensation to a woman for discrediting her as a witness, court officials said. In handing down the ruling to Asia University professor Shudo Higashinakano and publisher Tendensha, the Tokyo District Court ruled that the book's description left a strong impression that the plaintiff, Xia Shuqin (夏淑琴), only pretends to be a survivor of the Nanjing massacre. The court awarded Xia ¥ 4 million (US$34,900) in compensation.

■ MAN DIES AFTER PARKING SPAT

A 93-year-old man died in hospital on Saturday after being injured in a suspected argument over a parking space, police said. The man, from Devon, was seriously hurt during the row at a business park in Plympton, near Plymouth, on Friday afternoon. He was taken to the Devon city's Derriford Hospital where his condition quickly deteriorated. Medical staff called police. Devon and Cornwall Police said they have arrested a 50-year-old man from Plymouth in connection with the incident.